These are the dark days, are they not?

Dark when you get up, dark on the way to work, dark all day, dark on the way home, dark, dark, dark.

I like to think I am an optimist. If you watch Worcestershire Cricket Club for 50 years you have to be, but I reckon this is the worst time of the year.

The shortest day is not far off, and after that... January, February, March.

I was supposed to be in a big city on Saturday, but wasn't and instead ventured into Upton-upon-Severn to watch a bit of grass-roots sport.

Upton Rugby Club against the mighty Cleobury Mortimer. And what a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon it was.

There were a couple of good punch-ups as well, just to spice it all up. Upton won in a pleasant afternoon out.

It's the panto season of course and the pantomime in Malvern this year features Alan Fletcher.

You may know him better as Dr Karl in the soap Neighbours.

Now I have to be honest, what I know about Neighbours you could write on the back of a two-penny stamp, and still have room to sign your name.

So I was apprehensive about talking to Dr Karl, or Alan as he should be known. But what a nice bloke, top fellow, and to cap it all he was born in my favourite city in the whole world... Perth (not the one in Scotland!).

Anyway, I had a good old chat with him, and one of my highly researched questions was "Do people ever think you are a real Doctor".

I asked this because some years ago I was playing in a charity cricket match with Clive Mantle who you may recall for some time played the part of a doctor in Casualty.

During the game a spectator was struck by the ball, and Clive was asked by two people to go and apply first aid.

It appears he had a fear of blood, and had once fainted on the set of Casualty.

To continue my ramble across many themes to day, The Searchers are on in Malvern tomorrow.

It's a big charity concert with many local bodies benefiting from the fund.

There are still a few tickets left, available by phoning 01684 892277.

We have the Italians at Sixways tomorrow and then in the evening it's the Worcester Male Voice Choir Christmas Concert at Pershore Abbey.

So lots of bright things to talk about really... pity it's so dark though.